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THE HISTORY OF 

Qeorge H. Thomas Post No. 5, 

DEPARTMENT OF ILLINOIS 
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC 

for twenty =five years. 




J An Address delivered before the Post, August 12, 1898, 
f* by Past Commander HENRY C. COOKE. 

C Celebrating the twenty=fifth Anniversary of the 

J Posts organization. 



FRED. KRESSMANN & BRO., PRINTERS, 



.1 










George H. Thomas Post 
No. 5 



Department of Illinois 
Grand Army of the Republic. 



!l JAN 141904 il 



The first twenty-five years 
of 

George H. Thomas Post 

No. 5, 

department of illinois 

Grand Army of the Republic 



An Address by 
Past-Gommander Henry 6. Gooke. 



WHEN an audience is about to be afflicted 
with dry historical items, it is well 
to make known why such imposition 
is placed upon them, and the reason 
in this case is, that on June 26, 1896, 
at a regular meeting, Comrade Vernon moved that 
Comrade Cooke prepare the history of the Post, 
the same to be read at its twenty-fifth anniversary. 
The motion was carried, and so to-night the suc- 
cess or failure of my effort to carry out the instruc- 
tion named must be placed upon the sturdy 
shoulders of our present Post Commander. He 
little thought when the original motion was offered 
that Comrade Vernon, himself, would be in full 
command, when its instructions were finally car- 
ried out. 



In thinking the matter over it did not seem to 
me that there could be much to tell, but as mem- 
ory unrolled page after page of events long past, 
and almost forgotten, and as the written record 
told its tale of days gone by, it came to me that 
there was a story worth telling, and so to-night 
you shall be given as many items as the time 
allowed me will permit. 

It is said of Illinois in the song: 

" Not without thy wondrous story, 
Can be writ the nation's gloi-y!" 

and it may be said with equal truth, that without 
the story of George H. Thomas Post of Chicago the 
history of the Grand Army of the Republic caimot 
be written; and as for the members of this great 
Post who served everywhere during the war of the 
rebellion, let me quote the words used on another 
occasion by some one, saying: "All through that 
dark and desperate fight, wherever the battle was 
fiercest, wherever the air was foul with death, 
wherever the waves of war beat highest, wherever 
the line of battle came closest together, wherever 
men tugged and strained with their hot, hissing 
breath flying in each other's faces; whether among 
the hills of Missouri, along the murky waters of 
the Mississippi, in the valleys of Tennessee, back 
and forth over the blood-stained ground of Vir- 
ginia, along the storm-beaten coast of the Atlantic; 
wherever the tide of war ebbed and flowed, there 
were these comrades, holding aloft the banner of 
their several states by the side of the Stars and 
Stripes." For the members of this Post served in 
all the armies of the Union, from the Potomac to 



-5- 

tlie Rio Grande, along the Gulf, and up the At- 
lantic coast again, to Fortress Monroe. And now 
for my story. 

During Sherman's campaign to Meridian, 
Miss., in February, 1864, two earnest men, think- 
ing of the future, exchanged ideas, and the burden 
of the thought expressed by them, as they wearily 
marched along, was that the soldiers so closely 
allied in the fellowship of suflfering would, when 
mustered out of the service, desire some form of 
association that should preserve the friendships and 
memories of their common trials and danger. 

Those two men were Surgeon Stephenson and 
Chaplain Rutledge of the 14th Illinois Infantry 
Volunteers, and as they talked together from time 
to time the thought expanded and grew in im- 
portance to them, and it was agreed that if they 
were spared they would work out some such 
project. 

This is the earliest record towards forming 
an association, designed to include in its member- 
ship the ex-soldiers and sailors of the Union Army 
and Navy in general that is known. 

The war came to an end — veterans and recruits 
after being mustered out, melted away into the 
general population, the pursuits and pleasures of 
civil life were again assumed. The army had dis- 
appeared like dew before the morning sun, but the 
thought of 1864 still lingered in the minds of those 
earnest men and finally culminated in the organiza- 
tion of the Grand Army of the Republic. The first 



-6 - 

Post chartered was located at Decatur, 111., and 
its charter was dated April 6, 1866. 

It is not my purpose to tell the history of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, but it seemed proper, 
in telling the history of this Post, to briefly state 
how the original organization was launched upon 
a career that has proved so honorable and im- 
portant in carrying out a useful mission. 

The first George H. Thomas Post in Chicago 
was organized in the fall of 1868, but after a short 
and uneventful life was disbanded. 

The fire of 1871 checked the growth of the 
order in Chicago, and at the time of the organiza- 
tion of George H. Thomas Post No. 6, Department 
of Illinois, there was but one Post in the city, and 
this soon ceased to exist. 

In 1873, the year of our organization, the 
commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the 
Republic was Comrade Ambrose E. Burnside, who 
was serving his second term, the Adjutant General 
being Roswell Miller, now residing in Chicago, 
and well known to all. The. records at that date 
do not state what the membership of the order 
was. 

The seventh annual encampment of the De- 
partment of Illinois was held in Chicago, January 
22, 1873, presided over by Comrade H. Dilger. 
Department Commander. The report of the A. A. 
General showing a total membership in the De- 
partment at that date of 238, also announcing the 



-7— 
fact that it was gain of five over previous year. 
Receipts were $52.19 and disbursements the same 
amount Indebtedness to National Department, 
I85, and only four Posts reporting to the Depart- 
ment regularly. In 1874, at the annual encamp- 
ment held in Rockford, announcement was made 
of a gain of 200 members during the year. In 
1875 the encampment was held at Joliet and 
thirteen Posts reported, with about 1,200 members 

'1 he foregoing showing is made that you may 
know how insignificant the order was at the time 
this Post was started. George H. Thomas Post 
No. 6 was organized and its first officers installed, 
August 21, 1873, in Good Templars Hall, corner 
Lake and Seymour streets, with twenty-four 
charter members, and the name which it bears 
was adopted at that time. To Comrade Hiram 
Hilliard is due the credit of starting the work 
along that resulted in forming the Post. 

After meeting in sundry places, the first 
permanent home was secured by renting Leonard's 
Hall, 998 West Madison street, and our first meet- 
ing was held there, Nov. 14, 1873. ^^^ struggle 
for existence now began, for money was not so 
plentiful in those days as it has been since, and 
when the first by-laws were printed at a cost of 
$10 for 300 copies, it was thought that quite a 
financial transaction had been successfully carried 
through. May i, 1874, the first attempt was made 
to uniform the comrades, and May 30th the first 
detail at cemetery to decorate the graves of 
deceased soldiers was dutifully attended to. The 
Post, as you see, began to do duty in its earliest 
days. 



To show how nemesis follows on the track of 
a certain person, a note is found in the record under 
date of August 14, 1874, saying that Comrade 
Cooke is detailed to report progress of Post during 
first year, and he is, as you see, still reporting. 
Small in number, poor in purse, but earnest in the 
work, the first year has passed; at times it was 
hardly possible to get a quorum to hold a Post 
meeting; sometimes it seemed that courage 
would fail, for the Grand Army of the Republic 
was not in favor in Chicago in its early days. 

The year 1874 was uneventful, but as the days, 
one by one, were counted off, it was found that 
needed lessons had been learned by the comradesi 
and that much valuable experience was lett in store 
for future use. 

The first important event of 1875 was the elec- 
tion to membership on April 30th of that illustrious 
son of Illinois, John A. IvOgan. For some reason 
he was never mustered, so that George H. Thomas 
Post cannot claim him as a member. 

In May of this year the National Encamp- 
ment was held in Chicago, and while the opening 
exercises vs^ere in McCormick Hall, the business 
meeting occurred in a small room in the Grand 
Pacific Hotel, not more than one hundred being 
present, all told. The Grand Army of the Re- 
public was small indeed at this time. The Post 
performed its full part in entertaining and help- 
ing in whatever way the occasion required. 

The summer had passed, and the cool weather 
of approaching winter was arriving fast, matters 



—9— • 

were going wrong, and it looked as if the Post was 
about to come to a sudden and untimely end, when 
on November 26th a motion was made to sur- 
render the charter and wind up its affairs. The 
motion had the desired effect, for it was voted 
down, and the comrades realized the fact that 
active and persistent work was necessary to make 
the organization a success. 

November 26th, Comrade S. F. Brown asked 
for transfer, and Dec. 3rd Comrades Wilson, Parker 
and Rank asked for transfers, and all being 
granted, they, with others started Reynolds Post, 
and Comrade S. F. Brown was elected its first 
commander. This may be considered the first 
child of George H. Thomas Post; as the years 
have gone by this child has flourished, grown, and 
finally changed its name, so that we know it now 
as U. S. Grant Post No. 28. Post meetings had 
been held weekly from date of organization, but 
on Dec. 31, 1875, they were changed to the second 
and fourth Fridays of each month. 

Jan. I, 1876, our meeting place was moved to 
Hall of Cashman Lodge, corner of Madison and 
Robey streets, and from this time it can be said 
that success has been with the Post. 

Jan. 19, 1876, our first court martial was held 
and the accused found guilty. Many items like 
foregoing are mentioned, not because of great 
merit, but for sake of showing about what time 
things had a beginning. 

April 14th, Comrades H. P. Thompson and 
H. C. Cooke inaugurated the reading of papers 



— lO — 

before the Post, thus introducing what has proved 
to be a pleasant form of evening entertainment. 

Sept. r, 1876, the number of the Post was 
changed from No. 6 to No. 5, and since that time 
this has been Geo. H. Thomas Post No. 5. May 
30, 1877, by courtesy of the street car companies, 
the comrades and families were taken without 
change of cars from the West Side to Gracelaiid 
cemetery, where roses and garlands were strewn 
over the graves of comrades buried there, by little 
girls. It was a beautiful and impressive memorial 
day. 

In July, the railroad riots, starting first in 
Pittsburg, reached our city, and a cry came for 
help, when, true to its old time loyalty, the Post, 
responded to the call, and from July 23rd to 30th, 
1877, with rifle in hand and ammunition in pouch, 
helped to keep order in the city. Time will not 
permit me to detail all the adventures that occurred 
in these seven days, but the Post was praised for 
its action and the newspapers of the day gave it 
the credit of being the best drilled body of veterans 
that turned out in Chicago. 

A rifle club had been formed in the Post, and 
on June 7, 1878, a competitive shoot was held with 
the best rifle club in New York City, and the Geo. 
H. Thomas Rifle Club were the winners, by a score 
that has never been made in any similar contest 
up to this time. Ten of our comrades shooting 
against a like number of the New York Club, made 
a score of 460 out of a possible 500, an average of 
46 points to each man. 



— II — 

teb. 14, 1879, ^ motion was made and carried, 
27 to 7, that the Post move to the South Side, and 
on March 4, 1879, our first meeting was held in 
Accordia Hall, T12-114 Randolph street, meeting 
night having been changed from Friday to the 
second and fourth Thursday of each month; this 
change becoming necessary as no hall could be 
found that could be had for our regular Friday 
night meetings 

Sept. 25th, application was received, and on 
October 23, 1879, Lieutenant General Philip H. 
Sheridan was duly mustered in and became a mem- 
ber of the Post. He was presented with a Grand 
Army badge, a gold bar properly engraved attached, 
and it was his pride to wear it on all proper oc- 
casions. 

The Post turned out in a body to welcome 
General Grant on his return from a trip around 
the world, and as usual did the honors in a satis- 
factory manner. Nov. 27th a committee was ap- 
pointed to find a hall in which to hold an annual 
reception, and in looking for such a place found a 
hall at 167 Washington street, and as the member- 
ship had begun to get too large for its temporary 
quarters, it was decided to rent and fit up this 
hall. Articles of incorporation were taken out, 
and the stock in shares of $5 each was issued to 
raise funds for fitting up and furnishing. The 
comrades rallied to the cause, the money was 
raised, and the hall fitted up at a cost of ^540. 
This was the first strictly Grand Army hall iu 
Chicago. Our first meeting and installation of 
officers was held in these new quarters Jan. 27, 
1880. 



— 12 — 

Sept. iS, 1880, Comrade Seth F. Hancliett 
presented the Post with a set of thirty-five etch- 
ings, and in addition to their being a very interest- 
ing study, depicting old army scenes, they have 
now come to be a valuable collection. It would 
be hard to purchase a duplicate set at any price. 

Jan. 19, 1862, the battle of Mill Spring was 
fought between General Geo. H. Thomas and 
General Zollicoffer. The rebels were defeated 
and General Zollicoffer was killed. Dec. 23, 1880, 
the sword of General Zollicoffer was presented to 
this Post by Comrade A. M. Cook, v\^ho says "this 
modern weapon was taken from General Zolli- 
coffer' s body by a hospital steward and presented 
to A. M. Cook, surgeon in charge, who now^ pres- 
ents it to George H. Thomas Post No. 5, Dept. 
Illinois, G. A. R., of which he is a member." 

This w^as the first signal victory gained "by 
General George H. Thomas, and this Post, named 
in his honor, is possessor of the sword worn by the 
General whom he vanquished. 

April 15, 1881, a committee on history and 
publication was appointed, but no work of note 
was done by them. Sept. 30, 1881, a vote to or- 
ganize a drum corps passed, the members of the 
corps to be the sons of members of the Post. This 
drum corps was properly instructed by Comrade 
Harry Wagar and kept uniformed, and was the 
pride of the Post during its career of a year or tw'O. 
It was found, however, that the boys composing 
its membership would outgrow uniforms fre- 
quently, and its services were finally dispensed 
with. 



— T3— 

From Sept. 30, iS8r, to June 13, 1884, nothing 
of any great moment occurred in the work of the 
Post. A time of peace and quiet prevailed. Many 
recruits were gained, and the usual work of a 
rapidly growing society was carried on. Every- 
thing worked in harmony, and charity for the 
needy with good-fellowship one toward another 
seemed to prevail at all times. 

June 27, 1884, Comrade Cole of Post 40 being 
present at a regular meeting called attention to 
the fact that there was quite a sum of money in 
hands of some one which was originally raised for 
the Soldiers Home of Chicago during the war, so 
rumor said, and a committee was appointed to look 
into the matter, with like committees from other 
Posts, and see if said money could not be secured 
for the benefit, in some way, of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, and veterans in general. This 
appears to be the earliest move to secure the 
funds which have since gone into the Public 
Ivibrary building for the benefit of the veterans, 
resulting in the erection of the Memorial Hall and 
assembly rooms, where this meeting is held to- 
night. 

July II, 1884, a womans' auxiliary corps was 
proposed for the first time, but it never became 
an auxiliary to the Post, as the proposal was not 
received with favor by the comrades. 

Oct. 10, 1884, the committee previously ap- 
pointed reported that committees from the various 
Posts proposed to form a corporation to be known 
as The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall Associa- 
tion. 



— 14— 

Early in 1SS5 it was found a large defalcation 
in the funds of the Post had taken place, and a 
loss of twelve hundred dollars resulted therefrom. 
A small portion of this money was recovered at a 
later date. 

March 27, 1885, Comrade Hiram Hilliard 
announced that a petition had been prepared to 
be sent to the State Legislature, asking that a 
State Soldiers Home be established, at the same 
time requesting the comrades to sign it. The 
result of this effort is visible in the State Soldiers 
and Sailors Home at Ouincy. The original bill 
which became a law providing for its erection, was 
drawn up by Comrade E. A. Blodgett of this Post. 
July 24, 1885, the death of the silent commander, 
U. S. Grant, was announced, and suitable resolu- 
tions were passed. The hall was draped in mourn- 
ing and the Post attended the funeral obsequie<5 to 
do the last sad honors to our greatest commander. 
At this meeting Comrade Stockton presented to 
the Post the original order, in General Grant's 
handwriting, directing that every battery bearing 
upon, and within reach of the enemy, open fire at 
once in honor of Sherman's capture of Atlanta. 

Jan. 22, 1886, report was made of the death of 
Comrade Hiram Hilliard, which occurred at 
Oberlin, Kansas, Jan. 9, 1886. Comrade Hilliard 
was the second commander of the Post, though at 
the time of his death he was not a member. 

Feb. 12, 1886, the comrades voted to endorse 
Senate Bill No. 925, changing dedication of Dear- 
born- Park, said bill having been introduced by 



-15- 

Seiiatorjohn A. Logan, and asked all members of 
Congress from Illinois to vote for it. At this time a 
stereoptican was ordered bought, and it has since 
beeti in constant use adding interest to our muster 
nights. 

The question of a memorial service coming 
before the comrades, it was voted on Dec. loth to 
hold such service to the memory of the comrades 
who had died during the year; these services were 
inauguarated Jan. i6, 1887, and up to this time 
have been held annually. The dead have not been 
forgotten, but with solemn prayer, with speech in 
eulogy, and with mournful song, they have been 
remembered in the closing days of each recurring 
year. 

A special meeting of the Post was held Feb. 
14, 1887, to take action requesting the Legisiature 
to aid the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home at 
Normal, to provide funds for mure buildings and 
other necessary accommodations. Also asking the 
Legislature to pass a law forbidding the wearing 
of the Grand Army badge by unauthorized persons. 

Feb. 24, 1888, the Post was honored by the 
visit of Comrade John Brown, Jr., a member of 
Post No. 50, Sandusky, Ohio. Comrade Brown 
was a son of Old John Brown, of Harper's Ferry 
fame in 1859. It may be said that Joha Brown's 
raid was the forerunner of the rebellion, but had 
he waited a little longer, an opportunity to fight 
for the Union and against slavery would have fur- 
nished him a lawful reason for going to war. 



— 16— 

In the usual course of business, the landlord 
of Grand Army Hall at 167 Washington street 
demanded a higher rent, and as the comrades 
began to feel that it was becoming harder work 
to climb the stairs to a fourth floor, headquarters, 
and as the rent demanded seemed exorbitant, a 
committee had been appointed to look for new 
quarters, and on May 11, 1888, this committee re- 
ported that arrangements had been concluded to 
take the hall in Honore Block, up one flight of 
stairs only, for a term of three years, at a rental of 
^150 a month for the first year, and $170 per month 
for the balance of the term. The committee's 
action was ratified by the Post. 

May 25, 1888, the serious illness of our gallant 
Comrade General P. H. Sheridan was reported, 
and a telegram of S3'mpathy sent to Mrs. Sheridan. 

June 29, 1S88, the Post gave a reception to 
comrades and friends and appropriate exercises 
were held in dedication of new Grand Army Hall 
in Honore Block. 

The death of our Comrade General P. H. 
Sheridan having been announced, a special meet- 
ing was called Aug. 7, 1888, to take action in the 
matter; appropriate resolutions were passed, a 
floral offering was ordered purchased for the Post 
in Washington, which was done for us b}- the Hon. 
Wm. E. Mason, and the last sad tribute of respect 
was paid to our most illustrious member. 

Dec. 28, 1888, announcement was made that 
the collection for the Logan Monument fund 
amounted to $352.05, the same being the largest 



—17— 

collection made by any Post, and the committee 
having the matter in charge were discharged with 
a large vote of thanks. 

Resolutions were adopted Jan. 25, 1889, ask- 
ing the Legislature to pass a bill granting a por- 
tion of Dearborn Park for the use of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, on which to build a library 
of war history and a museum of war relics, mem- 
entos, etc. 

The flowers for use at cemeteries on Memorial 
Day were furnished by the school children for the 
first time, and May 30, 18S9, in this way changed 
the former method of getting needed floral ma- 
terial. 

Aug. 18, 1889, the Post voted to go to the 
National Encampment at Milwaukee by boat, and 
in carrying out this resolution took water for the 
first time in its history. From experience gained 
on that trip, it is safe to say that the comrades will 
not repeat the experiment. 

Under date of Aug. 23, 1889, Major Robert 
Anderson, Post No. 7, Department of Georgia and 
South Carolina, sends fraternal greetings and 
announces that its officers had been installed by a 
comrade of Geo. H. Thomas Post No. 5, Depart- 
ment Illinois, within the historic walls of Ft. 
Sumter, on Aug. 9. 1889. We maybe proud in- 
deed that a comrade of this Post performed such a 
duty in so memorable a place. Alway up to date, 
and ready to take position in the front line, the 
Post, on Aug. 23, 1889, adopted resolutions favor- 
ing Chicago for the World's Fair in 1892. 



— iS- 

On Nov. 8, 1889, Martin Conrad, a generous 
member of the Post, in the kindness of his heart, 
wishing to do good to such as might need assist- 
ance, conceived and carried into effect the idea of 
establishing a permanent fund, and to help the 
plan along made a personal donation of 1:535 as a 
nucleus, to which other contributions might be 
added from time to time. One condition of the 
donation was that the fund should be known as 
the Conrad \Vidov;s and Orphans Endowment 
Fund of George H. Thomas Post. The principal 
sum, and such additions as may be made thereto, 
were to be invested and the income to be used to 
aid destitute widows and orphans of members of 
George H. Thomas Post. 

A further provision was made that should the 
Post cease to exist, then the trustees in charge of 
said funds can extend the vSame relief to any other 
Post in the City of Chicago, and in the year 1910, 
or at any time thereafter, the Board of Trustees, if 
they so elect, may expend the principal of the 
fund for the benefit of the indigent wndows and 
orphans of ex-Union soldiers and sailors of the 
civil war. 

At a later date the Post voted an addition of 
one thousand dollars to this fund, with the agree- 
ment that a comrade would laise another thousand 
dollars and donate to the same fund. The Post 
paid in the money voted but up to this date the 
comrade has not kept h" lise and raised the 

second thousand dollars, xhe creation of this 
fund is one of the real unselfish acts of the comrade 
■who started it. and much good will eventually 



— 19- 

come from having such a supply of money to use 
in time of pressing need. 

At a meeting held Dec. 13, 1889, it was stated 
ttiat the Library Board was about to take possession 
of Dearborn Park, and a motion prevailed that a 
committee from this Post be appointed to urge the 
general committee of soldiers organizations to take 
immediate possession of that portion of Dearborn 
Park set apart by the legislature for the use of the 
soldiers home, and to commence the building of a 
memorial hall. 

It is proper to say that during the war of the 
Rebellion the Soldiers Home in Chicago was 
located on the corner of Randolph street and 
Michigan avenue, and a portion of Dearborn Park 
was given to the Soldiers Home organization, as it 
existed at that time. It has since become quite a 
factor in Grand Army matters. 

Dec. 27, 1889, the death was announced of 
Mrs. Francis Lucretia Thomas, widow of General 
George H. Thomas, after whom our Post was 
named, and resolutions of sympathy were duly 
passed. 

The first important item in 1890 was the fact 
reported April 25th that the Post had reached its 
first high water mark, and that the rolls show a 
membership of just -, one thousand. There was 
great rejoicing, and on May 9th a time of jollifica- 
tion was held for, from, the smallness of a child 
the Post had at las'\:(,<'- ftjed the stature of a full 
grown man, was a fun regiment so to speak, and 
almost the largest Post in the Grand Army of the 
Republic. 



— 20 — 

Chicago has held many good and patriotic 
citizens, and among them was one that the old 
soldiers could always call friend, and that one was 
our fellow-citizen, J, H. McVicker, He was with 
us, and for us, all the time, and on June 13, 1890, 
announcement was made stating he had issued an 
order that during each and every performance at 
his theater the music of the Star Spangled Banner 
should be played. Where will we find another 
such record. 

June 27, 1890, was the banner meeting of our 
history, for on that night, at the regular muster, 
forty new recruits with right hands raised to 
heaven took the solemn obligation that unite us 
and became comrades. This was the largest num- 
ber ever mustered in at one time in the Post's 
history. 

Sorrow comes to societies, just as it does to 
families, and when a comrade that all have known 
and loved is called away, sadness and tears pre- 
vail. The record shows the death, under date of 
Aug. 8, 1S90, of Past Commander \Vm. H. Wilder, 
a man loved by every member of the Post. It 
would be hard to find a comrade more thoroughly 
respected than was Comrade Wilder. 

The National Kncampment of 1893 was held 
in Boston, and on the way to that place the Post 
visited the grave of General George H. Thomas at 
Troy, N, Y., as a mark of respect to this great hero 
of the war. 

The Board of Education having named a new 
building the George H. Thomas school, the Post 



— 21 — 

in a body visited this school, and presented it a 
painting of George H. Thomas, on Sept. 20, 1890, 
the anniversary of the day on which he gained his 
glorions title, The Rock of Chickamauga. 

Nothing of importance occurred during the 
last third of 1890. the Post kept meeting, the mem- 
bers talking, the numbers growing — nothing more. 
The first important act of 1891 was a vote trans- 
ferring one thousand dollars to the Conrad fund, 
as you have already been told. 

June 12, 1891, one hundred dollars was voted 
towards a Memorial Hall at Decatur, 111., but up 
to date the building has not been erected, nor has 
the money been taken from the funds of the Post. 
July 24, 1891, was a red letter day in our history, 
for on that date Major General Nelson A. Miles 
was duly elected and became a member of the 
Post by transfer. 

The Woman Soldiers Home having been 
started, it would not be fair for me to omit the 
fact that on August 28, 1891, a motion was made 
to appropriate ^50 for the benefit of this Home, 
but on vote being taken, the motion was lost. 
The argument against the motion was that as the 
Home was started to relieve the Grand Army, it 
was not just to ask the Post for help at the begin- 
ning. 

Nov. 27, 1891, was another date long to be 
remembered, for in the evening of that day Com- 
rade Valentine J. Slee w^as duly mustered, and 
signed his name as No. 1,200 on the rolls, making 
a new high water mark. There was much rejoic- 
ing over the event, and the Doxology was sung. 



— 22 — 

The Worlds' Pair enterprise having assumed a 
definite shape, many schemes and plans were 
presented to the Post and discussions had over 
taking part in various ways. Finally a scheme to 
get up a inounted escort was proposed, and argued 
with so much enthusiasm that on Dec. ii, 1891, a 
committee was appointed to get up the escort. 

What days those were, and how well you will 
remember the talk. Kings, princes, dukes, 
notables, large and small, were coming to the 
show. The escort was to be superbly mounted, 
the uniforms were to be so magnificent as to 
dazzle the eyes of all beholders, and when the 
train came in the escort was to meet the dignitaries, 
take them to the hotel, stand up to the bar and 
drink red liquor, smoke cigars, do the honors, and 
when the time came, ride dow^n Michigan avenue 
and escort them to the Fair, It is hardly possible 
the world will ever see the like again. It was to 
have been simply immense. But why say more — 
the kings and things did not come, and the escor^ 
was never seen by mortal eyes. 

Feb. 3, 1892, a comrade died in St. Louis sud- 
denly. He was a modest, unassuming man, hav- 
ing a record known to but few. Just out of school , 
a young man of seventeen, he enlisted for service 
in the Mexican War, and as he learned the Spanish 
language readily was placed upon the staff of 
General Winfield Scott as official interpreter; 
when the city of Mexico was taken and the treaty 
of Guadaloupe Hidalgo was made, the young man 
that in later years was to become a comrade of 
this Post, performed a great portion of the work 



— 23— 

in making the treaty, as he proved to be about the 
most capable of General vScott's assistants, owing 
to his knowledge of the Spanish language. That 
comrade, in the war of the Rebellion, became 
General George Gordon Miner; we laid him away 
in Forest Home, and under the w'eeping willow^ 
there, he lies, waiting the judgment day. 

In view of the fact that the World's Fair 
would cause every one expense in entertaining 
friends at home, it was deemed wise to appoint a 
committee on w'ays and means, and through their 
efforts a lecture by Col. R. G. Ingersoll on Abraham 
Lincoln was given in the Auditorium, the net 
proceeds of which amounted to $1,652.88. This, 
and other money, w^as held by the committee to 
provide for expense which might fall upon the 
Post in entertaining visiting comrades during the 
Exposition. 

The story of the Post would not be complete 
without mention being made of Mrs Haugan, for 
many years the faithful janitress and custodian of 
the Grand Army Hall, 167 Washington street, also 
the one in Honore Block. In a generous moment 
the comrades voted her a two months vacation to 
visit the old home in Sweden and Norway, and 
also voted her one hundred dollars to help pay the 
expense. The visit was made, the relatives were 
rejoiced, and the Post felt amply repaid, when on 
Aug. 26, 1892, a letter w^as read from a nephew 
who was evidently trying to learn the English 
language. In his communication he constantly 
referred to the comrades as the men of the hall. 
He told in his best pigeon English how glad all at 



— 24— 

home were to see Mis. Haugan, who had been 
away from them for thirty years, and finally wound 
up by saying "that they were all very thankful 
to the men of the Hall for what they had done 
against his aunt." 

Sept. lo, 1892, the death of Comrade Frank 
C. Green was reported. He had been Post 
Quartermaster for eight years, and was a man loved 
by every one. 

Oct. 14, 1892, the comrades voted $150 towards 
a monument to be erected by the Army of the 
Tennessee to General Sherman, in the City of 
Washington. 

After almost twenty years of existence, we 
were called upon to note the death of our first 
officer to die during his term of office. Officer of 
the Guard, Valentine J. Slee, died March 6, 1893. 
He was No. 1,200 on the roll of members, and in 
rejoicing v/e sang the Doxology when he joined 
us. A few short months and all is changed, for 
now the burial hymns are sung and the saddest 
dirges played. 

The year 1893 was hardly ushered in when 
everything gave way to preparation for the coming 
Exposition, and as the landlord of Grand Army 
Hall wanted a small fortune for the premises, a com- 
mittee was appointed and a new meeting place 
secured in the Masonic Temple. The first meet- 
ing in this new home was held May 12, 1893, and 
never did the members of a Grand Army Post in this 
world meetso near heaven. It was on the eighteenth 
floor, and when we sang Nearer My God to Thee, 



—25— 

we were surely telling the truth. Nearly twenty 
years before our meeting place had been away out 
on the West Side in a litUe frame building, but 
now we were in a palace, and it proved the saying 
again, that there is nothing too good for an old 
soldier. 

The summer of 1893 was passed entertaining 
visiting comrades, and having a good time gener- 
ally; Grand Army day at the World's Fair occurred 
Sept 9th, and George H. Thomas Post turned out 
in large numbers, doing honor to this special day. 
Among the noted visitors of the year came Com- 
mander in Chief Adams, and during his stay an 
old wound prostrated him, rendering surgical at- 
tendance and long nursing necessary. The Post 
attended to the case until he was able to be taken 
to his home. Other Posts assisted in this duty, 
but it is only just to say that the larger part of the 
expense of his illness was paid by Post No. 5. 

Past Commander John E. Kiniberly died Dec. 
23, 1893; he was a veteran of the Mexican and 
Civil war. 

Jan. 26, 1894, report was made that the Post 
had 1,275 members in good standing. This was 
the largest membership attained by the Post since 
its organization. 

Two very important committees were ap- 
pointed at this time, composed of Comrades Schil- 
ling and Moderwell. Comrade Schilling's duty 
was to get together the records of service of each 
member, and Comrade Moderwell's duty was to 
procure the photograph of each member of the 



— 26— 

Post. These committees are still in existence and 
they have done much hard work and are still at it. 
The result of the work is of almost priceless value. 

July 13, 1894, a bronze grave marker was 
adopted, and no matter in what cemetery a com- 
rade's grave may be, one of these markers is 
placed at its head, so that the grave of a member 
of this Post can always be found when flowers are 
strewn on Memorial Day. 

Another noted day was Aug. 21, 1894. It was 
the tw'enty-first anniversary of the Post. We were 
twenty-one years old, and in honor of the event a 
picnic was held at Burlington Park. Fun, frolic 
all kinds of races, plenty of good things to eat, 
lovely ladies, music by the band, speeches, etc., 
filled up the hours A general good time was had 
by all. 

Comrade Cooke was surprised by the presenta- 
tion to him of a beautiful Past Commander's badge, 
in honor of his having been a member of the Post 
for twenty-one years, and he again thanks his 
friends, the givers, for the beautiful gift. 

Many times in meetings, and at other places, 
the subject of having a cemetery lot in which to 
place at rest those comrades who died with no 
means of burial provided, was talked over, and at 
last through the effort of a committee a fine lot 
was purchased in Rose Hill and a fitting monu- 
ment placed thereon. This monument is typical, 
inasmuch as it represents in its massiveness a 
veritable Rock of Chickamauga. 



— 27 — 

It is a rough granite block, iu a single piece, 
blasted from the bosom of mother earth, where it 
had reposed in its ledge since the earl}' morning of 
creation, until in the fullness of days, it was 
brought out to mark this last resting place of a 
few of the nation's heroes. In dimensions it stands 
12 feet 4 inches high, is 2 feet 4 inches square at 
the base, and weighs 33,900 pounds. The chisel 
of the sculptor has not marred its gray magnifi- 
cence, only just enough to carve a tablet, on which 
is graved the name of the Post, the membership 
of 1,272, in 1894 when it was erected, and the 
glorious sentence which always belongs with the 
name of George H. Thomas — "The Rork of Chick- 
amauga." Here it will stand until the last com- 
rade of this great Post shall have been summoned 
to the presence of the Grand Commander, and 
then to new generations, as from time to time the 
wandering ones stop and read the inscription on 
its rugged face, it will say here, marked by this 
monument, is the last resting place of a gallant 
baud of honored defenders of the Republic. Their 
comrades loved them, and raised this stone of im- 
perishable granite to watch over and guard them 
while they sleep. 

To Comrade Charles F. Matteson and his com- 
mittee too much credit cannot be given for the 
work performed in carrying the matter to a suc- 
cessful end. This lot was bought in September, 
1894, and possession of deed is noted in record 
under date of Feb. 22, 1S95. The lot was dedicated 
with proper ceremonies, and memorial services 
ordered for each recurring year. A fund has also 



—28— 

been placed in hands of the cemetery authorities 
to pay for its care in perpetuity. 

Early in 1895 Comrade Isaac Jackson endorsed 
b}^ vote of the Post, had a bill introduced into the 
Legislature, and it became on its passage what is 
known as the Bogardus law; it has been of much 
service in furnishing needed help to old soldiers. 
It is but one more of the good things accomplished 
during the Post's history. It was so worthy a 
measure that when the vote was taken in the 
lyCgisture June 14, 1895, it was unanimous in favor 
of the bill. 

May 10, 1895, the comrades placed a head- 
stone at grave of Comrade Hilliard (the Post's 
second commander) in Rosehill. He had not been 
a member for many years, having, on moving to 
Kansas, taken a transfer— still he was not for- 
gotten. 

Aug. 25, 1895, one of our comrades died, who 
deserves more than passing mention. It was Com 
rade General A. M. Stout. A Kentuckian, living 
in a border state, with a family favoring the 
secession cause, opposed at every turn, yet with 
that loyalty to flag and country which in rebellion 
days made heroes of unknown men, he chose the 
right side and fought under the stars and stripes 
to the music of the Union. In many miportant 
battles, at Shiloh and Chickamauga, as colonel of 
the 17th Kentucky Union Infantry he did gallant 
service. Coming home, he was ostracized for hav- 
ing fought for the North, family ties were severed, 
and he was left to die a lonelv old man. We 



—29— 

buried him in the Post lot at Rosehill. When the 
last trumpet call is heard, and the graves give up 
their dead, may Comrade Stout rise to great reward 
among the elected ones. 

Among those who made music to cheer the 
boys in the war days was a Chicago man, and who 
dres not remember his songs, Battle Cry of Free- 
dom, Just Before the Battle, Tramp, Tramp, 
Tramp, The Vacant Chair, etc. — it was Dr. George 
Frederick Root, and when his death was an- 
nounced in Post meeting Sept. 15, 1895, suitable 
resolutions were passed in memory of another good 
friend who had been called home. 

That you may know Post No. 5 by its member- 
ship occupies nearly all the earth, let me say that 
at a regular meeting held Ma}^ 8, 1896, a letter was 
read saying that our good comrade, Andrew Ham- 
mond, had been killed in South Africa by natives. 
Date unknown. 

Nov. 27, 1896, we were called upon to part with 
our much loved comrade, Geo. C. Brown. He 
had been Quartermaster for eleven years. His 
resignation was accepted with regret. He still 
retains his membership in the Post, though living 
in Alabama. 

Moving time gets around to the best of people, 
and May 14, 1897, found the Post moved down to 
the fifth floor of the Masonic Temple. We had lost 
our high estate, and instead of being almost in. 
sight of the battlements of heaven, had moved 
down thirteen floors, and it may be that the old 
adage will come trvie, for we had moved down 



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Comrades, unless some grear calimiiy cesrrojs 

■'"■•? montnneiital structure, 's^e sliall g^o one iv on.e 

■J. here to the sileut city, and ruere and i~ 

eternal resting' pla^re in hallo'vred gToan-d. Sliadowy 

: - -' -': ■ ; ■ ilready gone seem lo surrcund me — 

_ _ . - . ^ ■R'e Iiave known in life ire lioimg 
for lis. and soon this room, now ulled widi !rfe and 
an".' " _inoone* - ' " 

Thr . - _ r :. It - V . .^ :' 

'es. and with, the going of rlie last comrade 
Lii. - " " / ror this 

THi^. ; _ . ; r _. -_- _-; J.. 

Ycu hive heard the srory. detailing many 
things, and now let me state briefiy a fe-w that ycra. 
were leaders in: 

This Post establisheii the nrsr Grand Army 
Hall in Chicago, it was among the earli«st in the 
move to get a State 5 - - Home- 
also in the enbrt-to ha-^ „.c _. :_. Ilemorial 

Hall erected, to inaugurate annual memorial ser- 
vices for deceased comrades, to advance the in- 
terests of the '^ " "-- — ' '~ " -- x--_ 

to prevent the . -. 

Army badge, and to have the Bc^ardus lavr passed. 

You gave the largest amount " " ' _ - 3Ionu- 
ment tund; you askei. the L^^ - -_ : grant a 

pcHTtion of Dearbcm Park for use of the veterans. 
Yc" ---la res^:" ^.sking that the "World's 

Fa^ .. -,jated in .-^j as early as August 25. 

1SS9. Yo«rr donation was gtadbr givei tor the 
General Sherman monument to "be erected, in the 
City of "Washington, and in manv ^w^ys vottr m*iu- 
enee was exerted in all that could be f:>r the 
benent of the order. 



—32— 

Charity has been extended with a 1 beral 
hand, fraternity has been exemplified, and loyalty 
to comrades, flag and country, has always shone 
forth in its truest sense. 

Time will not permit me to tell of the relics 
and valuable property owned by the Post, but 
when the day comes for placing these mementoes 
of the past in Memorial Hall, a large quantity of 
valuable articles will be found on hand for that 
purpose. 

Your Conrad fund wall do good work in future 
years; your grave markers in the cemeteries will 
bear testimony for a generation to come of your 
care for those mustered out, and your beautiful lot 
and monument in Rosehill in all the days that are 
to be, will bear witness of your generous provision 
for the comrades who fell in life's battle, unable 
even to provide for themselves a resting place in 
God's acre. 

Of the charter members, twenty-four in num- 
ber, but three have marched along with the com- 
rades up to this date, the rest have fallen by the 
wayside, man}^ are dead, and others have dropped 
out at different times. The three surviving charter 
members are W. W. Calkins, Levi Dell and Henry 
C. Cooke. 

The Post, in its twenty-five years, has had 
twenty-seven commanders, and it is a remarkable 
fact that they are all living to-day except three, 
Past Commanders Hiram Hilliard, John F. Kim- 
berly and William H. Wilder, who died faithful 
men and good comrades. Of the balance, all still 
belong to the Post except L. H. Whitney, S. T. 
Lawrence, C. L. Bittinger and H. P. Thompson. 



—33— 

All of the past commanders reside in Chicago 
except C. L. Bittinger, who has Hved for many 
years at Ocala, Florida, and Freeman Conner, now 
a Hoosier farmer at Valparaiso, Ind. 

Another strange feature is the fact that with- 
out any intention of having it so, every com- 
mander without exception has belonged to a long 
term, or three years regiment, and served his full 
time during the war, unless mustered out on ac- 
count of wounds, or other disabilities, incurred in 
the service. 

Nothing would please me better than to call 
each of these past commanders by name, and tell 
3'ou some good thing done by them individually, 
and also recount the deeds of every comrade in 
the Post, but you have been patient for a long 
time and for that reason it cannot be done now. 

Our rolls show the total number of comrades 
that have been members of the Post to be 2,032, 
and the number remaining July i, 189S, was 942. 
Think of it, more than two full regiments. 

And what soldiers these comrades were, from 
the Potomac, from the Cumberland, from the 
Tennessee, from the Gulf, from all the armies, and 
from the squadrons, that fought on the sea, they 
have been gathered, heroes all working for the 
same object, never doubtful of the final outcome, 
always ready to do and die if need be. risking all 
that the nation might live and the Union be 
preserved. 

Where in the world's historic page can you 
find another such a record of unselfish patriotism? 
L,ike the stars in heaven each army tried to out 



—34- 

shine and outdo every other army, and when the 
clouds of defeat obscured for a time the glorious 
feats of arms, it was only for a little while; then 
new successes came, and again glorious victory, 
like the stars from out the darkening cloud, shone 
forth with brighter luster than before. 

Life is made up of events, and since our or- 
ganization in 1873 the world has changed and its 
events have been beyond the imagination of man. 
In these years our great leaders have all been called 
home, new states have been added to our Union — 
yes — Cuba has been freed and the islands of the 
sea have come into our possession. We have lived 
to see the blue and the gray clasp hands, march- 
ing side by side, the sixth Massachusetts has been 
pelted in Baltimore once more, but this time with 
roses; we have also seen soldiers carried to war in 
sleeping cars, surely in our day the world has 
moved. 

The Post has received many honors during its 
quarter of a century, and has been visited by every 
commander-in-chief with but three or four excep- 
tions. Comrades J. S. Reynolds and E. D. Swain 
were elected and served as Senior Vice Com- 
manders-in-Chief, and Comrade Guy T. Gould as 
Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, and many of our 
comrades have served on the staff of the National 
Commander from time to time. 

In the Department of Illinois honors have also 
been given us with a lavish ha id. for we have had 
six of our comrades fill the high office of Depart- 
ment Commander. They were Guy T. Gould, 
Hiram Hilliard, J. S. Reynolds, E. D. Swain, E. A. 
Blodgett and John C. Black. Comrade Hilliard 



-35— 

served three and Comrade Swain two terms, so 
that during our twenty-five 3'ears a comrade of 
this Post has been in command of the Department 
of Illinois nine years or more than one-third of the 
time. Greater recognition than this could not. 
with modesty, be asked. 

Commander, the. duty assigned me has been 
performed — some other comrade could have done 
it better, undoubtedly. Let me say, however, 
that this Post, and its affairs, have been a good 
part of my life through all these years. At the 
rising of its sun in 1873 my steps kept time to its 
first music, and marched along with the growing 
column until the meridian of its long day has 
passed, and now that the afternoon of declining 
years has been reached, my step, less elastic than 
before, is still keeping time, and sunset, with the 
long night, is almost in sight. Until the end let 
me be a comrade and friend to each and every 
member of this great Post. 

Comrades and friends, in closing this address, 
the long roll of honor, the list of the dead must 
not be forgotten. Would that each member of the 
Post who rests on Fame's eternal camping ground, 
beyond the river, might be called by name here, 
and the story of his gallantry be given, his hard- 
ships and sufferings recounted in thrilling words, 
for each and every comrade deserves eulogy and 
enconium. It cannot be, for the record of what 
each one of these men have done is longer than an 
evening. 

The past rises before me; in the vision can be 



plainly seen long lines of blue, and again long 
lines of gray, in opposing deadly conflict — there 
lie the resulting dead, and there the wounded; 
the hospital with its sick, and the prison pen with 
its starving men are there. 

The vision changes — there are no more battles 
— no more killed and maimed, there is no hospital, 
no prison pen, and stranger than all, there is no 
longer blue and gray, for. blending in one grand 
national color, all have clasped hands and now 
fight side by side for the Union. That was a vision 
of war and its resulting changes. 

Again we look and see the comrades of this 
Post, coming from the former strife, entering into 
the battle of life, fighting for work and bread, 
growing older, and one by one answering the last 
roll call, leaving our ranks, and going to that last 
quiet resting place, there waiting under tbe weep- 
ing willow, while the sighing of the pine and 
cypress sing a requiem for our dead. 

Comrades, we have laid away one hundred 
and ninety-six of those that walked with us in 
days gone by; they wait the judgment day, and 
let us pray that when the final bugle blast shall 
call them up the sentence of each one may be. 
Well done, enter now into peace and rest forever. 

Commander, the work for which your detail 
calls has been completed, and now all that remains 
is to let tattoo beat and taps be sounded on the 
first twenty -five 3-ears of George H. Thomas Post, 
No. 5. Department of Illinois, Grand Army of the 
Republic. 



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